George Washington Birthplace National Monument Virginia

George Washington's birthplace is in Westmoreland County, Virginia and is now home to a national monument. The grounds were originally settled by George Washington's great-grandfather who kept the property in the family passing it down for generations. His great-grandfather settled on the plantation back in 1657 and eventually purchased the additional land located near the Pope's Creek. George Washington was born on the grounds February 1732, lived there until he was three years of age and then returned as a teen. The home where he was actually born was built in 1718, and renovated during the early to mid 1720's. The first thing visitors will notice when entering the grounds is the memorial shaft obelisk that is made of Vermont marble. The obelisk is a tenth of the size of the original in Washington, D.C. The park grounds are extensive and includes acres of lush gardens, livestock, crops of wheat and tobacco, groves of beautiful trees, and farm buildings. The park has maintained its integrity over the years and accurately symbolizes the environment that George Washington grew up in as a toddler and teenager.

In 1858, the state of Virginia acquired the property to preserve the birthplace of George Washington but the Civil War destroyed the state's plans to retain the house and the homesite fell into the hands of the United States Federal Government in 1882. During the following years, George Washington's birthplace sat in idleness with no major plans for any renovations. In 1923, the Wakefield National Memorial Association was formed to restore the property to its original integrity and provide upkeep to further preserve the history of the home. Each year, over a hundred thousand people head to the historical home to visit the place where George Washington was born.

In the 1930's, a Memorial House was opened to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The construction of the memorial house is a close replica of his original birthplace, but represents more of a typical upper class house of that period. The Memorial House is constructed of bricks that were made by hand, has four rooms on each floor and a central hallway. Antique furnishings from the 1700's makes visitors to the home feel as if they have stepped back in time. The memorial house has precious artifacts that are more than 200 years old.

It wasn't until 1930 that the United States authorized George Washington's Birthplace as a national monument. The homesite covers over 550 acres of land. Part of the land contains a burial ground, that contains the graves of 32 members of George Washington's family. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father are all buried in the cemetery. In addition to the burial ground and Memorial House, other facilities are open to visitors who tour the monument such as the birthplace home area, hiking trails, picnic grounds, and the Kitchen House. In the Kitchen House re-enactors in costumes demonstrate soap and candle making, which were two household duties common during that time. A Visitors Center contains additional information on the history of the homesite as well as the life of George Washington. Artifacts recovered from a burned property and a fifteen minute film depicting what life was like for the Washington Family are shown in the exhibit and theater areas of the Visitors Center. The George Washington Birthplace is currently operated by the National Park Service.